Publisher's Synopsis
An expert explores the nature of pain: why it hurts and why some pain is good and some pain is bad.
If you touch something hot, it hurts. You snatch your hand away from the hot thing immediately. Obviously. But what is happening, biologically--and emotionally? In Understanding Pain, he explores the mechanisms and the meaning of pain. You touch something hot and your brain triggers a reflex action that causes you to withdraw your hand, protecting you from injury. That kind of pain, he explains, is good for us; it acts as an alarm that warns us of danger and keeps us away from harm.
Pain is the number one reason that people visit their physicians, yet unrelieved pain continues to be a major medical problem throughout the world. He has a Ph.D. in biochemistry and thirty years of research experience in immunology and pain, including pain medications. She discusses current medications and alternative methods to relieve pain, which are often inadequate or possess significant liabilities. Cultural views and biases also contribute to inadequate pain relief for many people. Based on hard science but written in accessible language, PAIN will enhance understanding of pain and point to a future with reduced suffering from unrelieved pain.
